Top plate for cooking stoves and ranges



No. 328,580. Patented Oct. 20, 1885.

a m T N. E v. N

i PATENT EEICE.

JOHN FORBES, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

TOP PLATE FOR COOKING STOVES AND RANGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,580, dated October 20,1885,

Application filed November 7, 1884. Serial No. 147,368.

T 0 LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J oHN FoRBEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Top Plates for Cooking Stoves and Ranges, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a means whereby the pot-holes of stoves and ranges are covered by a sliding plate, and thus render it unnecessary to lift the cover from said pot-holes and place them upon the top plate and occupy the valuable room thereon. This object I accomplish by constructing a rail, and supporting brackets or ways around the stove or range, on a horizontal line with the edge of the top plate, and upon which ways the sliding pot-hole plates rest when drawn out.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specioation and to which reference is made, Figure l is a plan view of my improved top plate for stoves, showing the rail and supporting guideways in position. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line Y Y of Fig. l. Fig. 4L is a vertical section taken on line Z Z of Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference are used to indicate like parts throughout the several views.

A represents the top plate of a stove, and which is provided with the desired number of pot-holes B. The approaches to these holes are all countersunk outwardly to the edge of the stove-plate, and within these depressions C are placed the sliding plates or stove-lids D, having rounded or curved upper or inner ends to fit closely against the circumference of the pot-hole and cover it entirely. The side edges of the plates D slide along the sides or angles of the depressions C to cover up or uncover the pot-holes, or otherwise a scarfjoint is formed, as shown at E in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

Around the edges of the stove-plate is placed a rail, F, upheld by brackets G bolted to the body of the stove; and the top edge of these rails or brackets extend in a continuous (No model.)

level line from the top plate backward or out- Ward, and are connected to the rail F by a bolt or rivet. These brackets or guide-rails are connected to the stove and rail F in sets of two-one upon each side of the depression leading to a stove-hole. The facing edges of these guides are also provided with flanges or scarfed ribs, along which the plates or lids D are slid backward to uncover the pot-hole, as shown in Fig. 2, and in this position they remain until shoved back to cover up the opening or pot-hole again. The concaved plate G, (see Figs. 1 and 3,) which occupies the place between the two front holes in the stove may also be slid outward or forward along the front brackets or guideways, for the purpose of allowing a clothes-boiler or other large vessel to be placed on the stove immediately over the fire. All of these sliding covers are provided with knobs H, formed of any substance which is a good non-conductor of heat; but should it be deemed preferable, the knobs may be dispensed with and the usual recess for the stove-hook may be made in the upper surface of the stove lids or plates.

By this construction it will be seen that I am enabled to greatly economize the heat of the stove, as.when the lids are drawn out and the stove-holes are occupied by vessels containing cooking food, the lids, which form a bench or shelf, may be utilized to support other vessels of food already cooked and enable the same to be kept warm, While the surrounding rod or rail F may be used to hang damp dish-cloths or napkins upon.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

The combination, with the top plate of a cooking-stove, of the sliding lids or pot-hole covers D, brackets or guideways G, and surrounding rail F, substantially as shown, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

JOHN EoEBEs. [n s] 

